A man accused of killing a 32-year-old cab driver in a drunken-driving crash was convicted of DUI manslaughter and other charges Thursday and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Brian Ferry Sr., of Largo, had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the threshold at which Florida law presumes that someone is unable to safely drive a motor vehicle when he slammed into a taxi driven by Joshua J. Donahue in Clearwater on April 12, 2010. Donahue, a father of three from New Port Richey, died less than an hour after the crash. Ferry, 48, should not have been driving that night at all, authorities said. His license had been revoked nearly a decade earlier after a string of DUI convictions. He was sentenced to 15 years on the manslaughter charge and five years each for fleeing and eluding and driving while license suspended or revoked. The sentences are to run consecutively, according to court records.

North Pinellas

Event links those opposed to drilling

People opposed to expanded oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast are invited to attend "Hands Across the Sand" this morning. People will join hands to form human chains across the beach. The actual hand-holding occurs at 11 a.m., so participants should show up early. There are three locations in north Pinellas:

• Pier 60, Clearwater Beach

• Dunedin Causeway

• Public park and beach access at 1700 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach

For more information, go online to www.handsacrossthesand.org.

Clearwater

Summer reading program begins

Bestselling author Tim Dorsey will visit the Clearwater East Library at 2 p.m. today to promote his book Electric Barracuda and kick off the Adult Summer Reading Program. Dorsey was born in Indiana but moved to Florida at an early age. In 1987, he became a reporter for the Tampa Tribune. In 1999, he resigned from the paper to write full-time. Dorsey lives in Tampa with his wife and two daughters. His novels include Florida Roadkill, Atomic Lobster and Gator A-Go-Go. All feature Serge Storms as the main character. The Clearwater East Library is at 2251 Drew St. For more information, call (727) 562-4970.

Dunedin

Baseball, music and more July 3

Dunedin's pre-Independence Day Celebration, "Hometown USA," returns to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on July 3 with a day of baseball, music and fireworks. The fun kicks off with the Dunedin Blue Jays' 4 p.m. game against the Daytona Cubs. Hang around after the game for a free concert by the Greg Billings Band and a fireworks display. Call (727) 812-4530 for information.

President Donald Trump and top Republicans will promise a package of sweeping tax cuts for companies and individuals, the Washington Post reports, but the GOP leaders will stop short of labeling many of the tax breaks they hope to strip away, putting off controversial decisions that threaten to sink the party's tax …

Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey last year made a definitive announcement about the company's famous 140-character count amid rumors that the firm would substantially relax the limit. "It's staying," Dorsey told the "Today" show's Matt Lauer. "It's a good constraint for us."